Netanyahu Dissolves Israel's War Cabinet, Tightens Grip
In a move that has sent shockwaves through the political landscape in Israel, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has dissolved the country's war cabinet. The decision, announced to his ministers, is being seen as a deliberate rebuff to Netanyahu's far-right allies and an attempt to consolidate his grip on decision-making over the ongoing conflicts with Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah across the Lebanese border.
The war cabinet was established last year as part of an agreement that brought the moderate politician Benny Gantz and his national unity party into an emergency coalition government. However, with Gantz's resignation a week ago, Netanyahu reportedly told his ministers that the cabinet was no longer needed.
The dissolution of the war cabinet is unlikely to have a significant impact on the actual conduct of the conflicts, as decision-making will now revert to the security cabinet. However, the political implications could be far-reaching.
Netanyahu's move appears to be a snub to his far-right allies, including the national security minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, who had been angling for a seat on the war cabinet. Reports suggest the prime minister now intends to make key decisions in meetings with his own advisers, excluding the more hawkish voices.
This comes amid growing divisions between Netanyahu and senior Israel Defense Forces commanders, with the prime minister reportedly acknowledging that some of his decisions have not been acceptable to the military leadership. Nevertheless, Netanyahu has emphasized that Israel is a country with an army, not the other way around.
The dissolution of the war cabinet also reflects Netanyahu's increasing confidence, as his poll numbers have improved since Gantz's departure, which has caused the latter's own polling to decline. While the Biden administration had pressed for the maintenance of the war cabinet, which was seen as a more moderate forum, Netanyahu's move suggests he is prioritizing his desire to continue the conflict on his own terms.
